Seven in two years: NBL coaching turnover sparks debate

29 Dec 2025

Three-time NBL champion Phil Smyth has called for teams to have more patience with their head coaches.

Since 2023, seven NBL head coaches have been moved on by their respective clubs, with the most recent of those being Brisbane Bullets' Stu Lash.

That number is higher than the coaching turnover the AFL (three) and equal to the NRL (seven) has experienced in the same amount of time.

That statistic has prompted three-time NBL champion and one of the competition's greatest ever coaches, Phil Smyth, to preach for teams to have more patience with their staff.

“If you are having multiple coaches over an extended period, clearly your process is wrong,” Smyth said via CODE Sports.

“You can’t buy a championship and you have to build the culture and the team, but it takes time.

“Coaches are an easy target to blame, especially in a result-driven industry. Look at sporting clubs, not just in Australia but around the world who have sustained success on and off the field and stability is key. You need the right people in the right places all working together. Park the egos.”

Joining Lash on the list of NBL coaches moved on over the past years are Scott Ninnis (Adelaide 36ers), CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers), Justin Schueller (Brisbane Bullets), Mahmoud Abdelfattah (Sydney Kings), Mike Kelly (South East Melbourne Phoenix) and Jacob Jackomas (Illawarra Hawks).

Round 14 of the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season resumes on Monday night, when Tasmania hosts South East Melbourne from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

Read the full story here >> More than the AFL and on par with NRL: Inside the NBL’s unrealistic coaching exodus